The Best of Southern Africa
Unsurpassed wildlife that boasts a significant number of the world's bird, fish, plant, mammal and reptile species, including the big 5 as well as whales, dolphins and much more, make it no understatement to call Southern Africa a safari and nature paradise - and that is only the beginning.
-10 days
See below for dates and pricing
AFRICA
Scenic beauty of diverse landscapes unfolds before you as you travel this exquisite land, from stunning coastlines, dramatic mountain-scapes, untamed bushveld, beautiful semi-deserts, lakes, waterfalls, spectacular canyons, forests and wide plains, not to mention Cape Town, undeniably one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
MANY WORLDS IN ONE
Join us on this exquisite tour and start looking forward…as we accompany you on a safari journey like no other. On this most incredible visit of Southern Africa, you will take it all in as we arrange every detail for you in an experience that harmonious combines pampering luxury with a unique wildlife adventure. Wine and dine with gourmet kosher cuisines (even in the bush!) and enjoy luxury five-star accommodation – this is the Best of Southern Africa – the GKS way.
This tour can be taken as a superior luxury, deluxe luxury or ultra luxury tour depending on budget. Please inquire about pricing and differences.
“The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa…For he has so much to look forward to” - R.Mullin
Arrive in Johannesburg and connect to Livingstone, Zambia, gateway to the mighty Victoria Falls.
Victoria Falls is not only a world-famous UNESCO World Heritage site, but with its massive curtain of falling water that plunges almost 100m down the 1800m width of the mighty Zambezi River, it has been acclaimed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Spend the afternoon admiring the magnificent views of the Falls from the Zambian side. Enjoy the views of the water of the Zambezi River pouring over the precipice, the thunderous sound of the water crashing into the gorge and the thick cloud of mist which leaves you refreshed and exhilarated.
Victoria Falls will leave you with an everlasting impression.
Travel through the African bush to the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers, the Kazangula border post, where four Africa countries meet. Here, we cross the great Zambezi River into Botswana, and set out on our first safari in the world-famous Chobe National Park.
Chobe is home to the largest concentration of elephant in the world, as well as large herds of buffalo, hippo, many crocodile, antelope, zebra, giraffe, and of course the big cats.
We start our safari by boat, cruising down the most game-rich river in the world, hoping for some close-up sightings of hippo, crocodile, and possibly even elephant swimming in the river.
After lunch, we board open jeeps for an exciting safari in the interior of the park, as well as along the river banks, looking out for giraffe, zebra, antelope, lion, leopard, and of course, Chobe’s famous large elephant herds- this is the world’s elephant capital after all!
This morning, we cross the “Victoria Falls Bridge”, one of the most spectacular border crossings in the world, where the old colonial road crosses the Zambezi River Gorge, affording great views of the falls and rainforest.
After completing border formalities, we tour the Zimbabwean side of the falls, encompassing the widest parts of the Victoria Falls, including the “Devil’s Cataract”, and the “Main Falls”- the world’s widest unbroken curtain of falling water.
Time permitting, we stop at the “Big Tree”, a massive baobab tree the size of a house, and/or the historic “Victoria Falls hotel” for drinks.
We then cross back into Zambia for our flight back to Johannesburg and on to Cape Town, South Africa’s magnificent “Mother City", set in a basin surrounded by mountains and ocean. We enjoy dinner at one of Cape Town’s kosher restaurants, and check into our luxury hotel.
Cape Town is virtually synonymous with “Table Mountain”, and today, weather permitting, we take the Cable-car up this world-famous landmark, now ranked as one of the “New 7 wonders of the natural world.”
From the summit, the views are endless: The Cape Peninsula as far as “Cape Point” to the South, the “Two Oceans” to the West and East, and the City, West-coast, and higher mountain ranges to the North. Due to unpredictable weather, a visit to the summit cannot be guaranteed, but the nearby “Signal Hill” and “Lion’s Head” mountains also provide incredible views in many cases where this is not possible.
Cape Town has so much to see and do, and after a lovely lunch at the “Jewish Museum”, we visit the world- famous “Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens”, nestled on the Southern Slopes of the mountain, where the various unique species of the “Cape Floral Kingdom” can be enjoyed, as well as different views of Table Mountain from the other side.
We return to our hotel on time to prepare for a wonderful and inspiring Shabbos with the friendly Jewish communities of Cape town.
Cape town has a wonderful variety of Synagogues and communities, and what better way to get to know them than to spend a Shabbos in this incredible city.
From the historic “Gardens Synagogue” in downtown Cape Town, to the original “Sea Point Hebrew Congregation”, with their famous choirs and Chazanim, to the vibrant “Ohr Sameach”, Young Israel style “Morasha”, “the Shul on the Bay” and others, there is much to choose from.
Depending on your Shabbos hotel and your preference, we will guide you to the shuls of your choice, after which a delicious Shabbos lunch will await you. What better way to spend a Shabbos afternoon than a relaxing walk along Cape-Town’s magnificent beachfront!
Today, we experience some of the world’s most spectacular scenery: The “Cape Peninsula” is surrounded by the icy waters of the Atlantic on the West, and the warm waters of the Mozambique current on the East, separated by the majestic mountains of the “Table Mountain National Park.”
We start our day with a magnificent boat cruise out to “Seal Island” to see a massive colony of Cape fur seals, after which the famous “Chapman’s Peak Drive” takes us along narrow ocean-facing cliffs towards Cape Point, the dramatic meeting point of the two ocean currents and tip of the Peninsula.
After lunch, a spectacular hike leads the walking enthusiasts along cliffs, glorious beaches, and unbeatable scenery to the famous “Cape of Good Hope”, first navigated by the original Portuguese explorers so long ago.
At the same time, those who are less energetic can relax and enjoy the magnificent views at Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope below.
We continue our scenic drive round the Eastern side of the Peninsula to “Boulder’s Beach”, where we visit a natural colony of Cape Penguins, a unique and exciting end to a magnificent day. The never-ending Cape scenery takes us back to town and our hotel, where we freshen up for dinner.
Fly to Hoedspruit, gateway to the luxury private reserves of the “Greater Kruger National Park”. After a delicious lunch and check-in to your luxury lodge, set out on your first exciting open-jeep safari. With the help of off-road access and specialized game-trackers, getting close to the “Big 5” has never been easier, - but this is NO zoo, and there are NO guarantees- anything can happen at any time on safari!
Some of the animals we hope to see include various antelope species, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, hippo, crocodile, and of course the famous “Big 5“: elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion, and leopard. Even more elusive are the African wild dog and cheetah!
A freshly prepared, gourmet kosher dinner awaits us on our return to the lodge!
The routine on safari is geared to take advantage of the best hours of the day for game-viewing: early mornings, and late-afternoons- animals generally are less active in the heat of the day. We rise early before dawn for coffee and biscuits, and enter the park in search of the still-active nocturnal animals such as lion and leopard, as well as the antelope and other species they prey on.
Even the leopard needs a siesta, and the middle of the day is relaxed, consisting of time to daven, a splendid late breakfast, an optional bush walk, time to relax by the pool or take a spa treatment, and of course, a delicious light lunch!
In the late afternoon, we continue our safari, searching for species we have not yet seen, and more of those we have already seen. Every game-drive is completely unique-, and the bushveld is always on the move- what one vehicle is lucky enough to spot, the next might miss by a few seconds
The sun has not yet risen over the African bush, and our last exciting game-drive is upon us. Every safari is completely different- animals can be a lot like human beings, and every aspect of their behavior is fascinating to watch and observe.
The incredible sight of a lioness playing with her cubs, a hippo yawning, leopard stalking her prey, or a baboon family playing together, can now be seen by those lucky enough, not just on a National Geographic, but in real life!
After a delicious breakfast, we fly to Johannesburg on time for our flight back home, enriched by all the magnificent creatures and scenic wonders we have seen.
This tour can be taken as a superior luxury, deluxe luxury or ultra luxury tour depending on budget. Please inquire about pricing and differences.
Itinerary
DATES
TOUR LEVELS
PRICE P/P
July 2- July 11 | 10 days
Luxury tour
DL: $8,500
Sept 3 -Sept 12 | 10 days
Affordable Luxury
SL: $7,500
Singles Supplements are available on all tours. Please inquire directly.
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3 freshly prepared kosher meals daily by GKS chefs, under our strict
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Hashgacha
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Snacks and plenty bottled water on excursions; drinks during meals
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Quality kosher wines served at dinner
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Domestic Flights
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Experienced English-speaking guides throughout the trip
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VIP Air-conditioned vehicle for all transfer and touring transportation
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Airport transfers
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Safaris, Excursions and activities per itinerary
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All entrance fees
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Government tax & Service charge
What's not included?
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Tips – 6%
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International airfares
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Visas and airport taxes
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Travel insurance
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Hotel upgrades
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Personal expenses
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Southern Africa
Frequently Asked Questions
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Citizens of the U.S., most commonwealth countries, and Israel do not require visas to enter South Africa.
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Visitors must ensure that they have at least 2 blank VISA pages (not endorsement pages) in their passport for this, or they WILL be denied boarding to South Africa.
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Due to the many different countries that are often visited and reentry into South Africa, we strongly suggest having at least 5 empty VISA pages available!
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Botswana also gives free visas to citizens of most of these countries but their rules change from time to time.
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Zambia and Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls on our itineraries ) require visitors to buy visas.
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For U.S. ,European, and Israeli citizens, this is usually possible at port of entry but their rules tend to change regularly, so please double check with your local consulate.
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A limited ammount of CAZA visas which allows multiple entry to both countries for only $50 can be obtained at airport points of entry- when not available, seperate double/multiple entry visas need to be purchased for each country and can cost up to about $130 or more each, depending on nationality- please carry enough cash $US for these (only new notes post 2006)
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As GKS cannot take responsibility for accuracy of visa information, it MUST be verified by the consulates of these countries well in advance of travel .
*These FAQ's are specific to this tour.
Just a few of our favorite memories
CAPTURED MOMENTS
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